Biodegradable Silver Nanoparticles Gel and Its Impact on Tomato Seed Germination Rate in In Vitro Cultures

Abstract

Nanotechnology plays an important role in many fields of science and the economy. A special example of nanostructures is silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) created following the principles of green chemistry, i.e., without the use of toxic reducing compounds. The common tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a popular vegetable whose germination and growth process are studied by using, e.g., in vitro cultures. The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of the biodegradable gels containing silver nanoparticles on the development of microbial infection and to evaluate their influence on the germination degree of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seeds in in vitro plant cultures. Based on macroscopic and microscopic observations, all experimental samples showed the presence of Gram-positive bacilli as well as mould fungi of the genus Rhizopus, Alternaria and Aspergillus. The study showed that the biocomponents containing silver nanoparticles obtained by using xylose as a reducing agent limit the development of microbial infection and stimulate the germination rate of tomato seeds. They could find their application as biodegradable raw materials in the production of modern disinfecting preparations for research in in vitro cultures. This study allowed to identify new research directions, especially to evaluate the metabolic regulation of seedlings treated with biodegradable silver nanoparticles.

Alginate Silver Nanoparticles and Their Effect on Sperm Parameters of the Domestic Rabbit

“…It is also possible to embed these particles in the structures of non-toxic carriers, which act as a stabilizer for the resulting structures. For instance, polysaccharide sodium alginate can be used as an ecological stabilizer [33]. Sodium alginate is commonly obtained from natural sources.…”

“…Sodium alginate has a number of valuable biological properties, including biodegradability and biocompatibility with the natural environment. Importantly, from the point of view of the conducted research, this substance easily undergoes the gelatinization process and, thus, creates plastic gels [33][34][35][36]. Alginate is widely used in various industries, such as pharmaceuticals, tissue engineering, and agri-food, due to its low toxicity [37][38][39][40][41].…”